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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Sonia leads UPA attack on Advani

In a rare show of combativeness, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday led the UPA attack in the Lok Sabha against senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, who earlier described UPA II as “illegitimate”.

Mr Advani, initiating the debate on the adjournment motion on the Assam ethnic violence, said: “In 2004, the UPA I was formed after winning the election, so it was a legitimate government. But UPA II is an illegitimate government.” At this, UPA members were on their feet demanding an apology from Mr Advani.

A visibly angry Mrs Gandhi led the protest, asking UPA MPs to stand up and prevent Mr Advani from continuing. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also described Mr Advani’s remark as “disgraceful and unfortunate”.

The House was locked in uproar as BJP members launched a counter-attack but Mrs Gandhi had one simple demand.

“Withdraw, withdraw one word, withdraw,” she said signalling the whole matter could be resolved.